Chapter 496 This Resentment Cannot Be Swallowed
As the conversation reached this point, Cathy put down her fork, her expression turning serious.
"So, you do know that your Heilbronn family owes a lot to my Aurelia, right?"
Reed's face darkened, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Aurelia has indeed suffered. I failed to teach my descendants properly, and Aurelia went through many hardships she shouldn't have. But she's a strong woman and has endured all those past difficulties. It's not easy for a woman to raise two kids on her own. From now on, feel free to rely on my foolish son for anything. It's his duty."
Reed then took out something he had prepared beforehand, starting with a document.
"This is the inheritance I promised Aurelia years ago. Whether I give it now or later, it doesn't matter. It's rightfully hers, and I'm formally handing it over to her now."
Aurelia looked at the hefty document, hesitant to take it.
"You should keep this. I don't need anything."
Reed insisted.
"I said it's yours. Taking it back would make me a liar. Take it, Aurelia. These are my overseas assets, including investments in major financial centers around the world. They generate steady returns. If it's too much trouble, you can hire a professional to manage them.
I'm giving you this not to ask for anything in return. It's rightfully yours."
With Reed's insistence, Aurelia had no choice but to accept it. She knew this was Reed's last asset; the rest had already been divided among his children and grandchildren.
Cathy, who had seen much of the world, watched coldly for a while before speaking up.
"I heard that my Aurelia's marital home in Imperick was occupied by another woman. Is that true, Reed? As a woman, I find that utterly disgusting. My Aurelia can't swallow this insult."
With Cathy bringing this up, the conversation turned blunt. Everyone laid their cards on the table, ready to settle scores.
Reed sighed, his clear eyes misting over.
"That house wasn't exactly a marital home. It was a wedding gift from me. When my foolish son was young, he nearly drowned in a pool. A girl younger than him saved him, which led to her developing a severe congenital heart condition. Out of gratitude, my son got entangled with her and didn't handle it well.
I didn't manage the aftermath properly back then and didn't pay enough as thanks. This won't happen again. I hope Aurelia can trust him once more."
Cathy let out a cold laugh.
"Gratitude? Gratitude that led to that woman getting pregnant? The Heilbronn family's way of repaying a life-saving debt is quite unique—by offering themselves?"
Cathy's words grew sharper, showing no mercy. She was determined to get justice for her child.
Nathaniel, who had been silent, finally spoke up.
"No, I never had any sexual relationship with that woman. I never touched her or had any feelings for her beyond gratitude. I was foolish and fell into her traps multiple times, neglecting Aurelia's feelings."
Cathy recalled those events with a surge of resentment. What kind of life had her precious Aurelia endured with the Heilbronn family?
"You are indeed foolish, unworthy of my Aurelia. You couldn't even figure out if the child she carried was yours. What kind of man are you? Reed handed the company to you, unafraid you'd ruin the family business."
Nathaniel didn't dare respond. He accepted everything Cathy said. She needed to vent her anger; only then would he have a chance to prove his love for Aurelia.
Aurelia sat quietly, worried that her grandmother's blood pressure might spike after this meal.
Cathy continued her interrogation.
"Nathaniel, let me ask you this: that woman repeatedly bullied my Aurelia, even hiring a hitman to stage a car accident to kill her. You claim you had no feelings for that woman and only loved Aurelia. Did you avenge this attempt on her life?"
Nathaniel answered honestly.
"The plot against Aurelia was orchestrated by that woman's mother. Chelsea was an accomplice. The mastermind is dead, and Chelsea was sentenced to three years and is currently serving her time."
Cathy let out a contemptuous laugh.
"She tried to kill my Aurelia, and that's your revenge? Why didn't you kill her? Are you afraid? Your love for my Aurelia seems pretty shallow. Don't mention it casually; it's laughable.
If you can't let go of the debt from her saving your life, let's settle this. That woman nearly killed your wife and children. We saved Aurelia from the brink of death. You owe her, and it's been repaid with your wife and children's lives."
Nathaniel wiped his forehead.
"It's not that I'm afraid. It's illegal."
"Illegal or unwilling? I've seen many men like you. Even if it's crap, you'd want to try a bite.
Don't talk about loving my Aurelia. Your kind of love is worthless."
Nathaniel's throat tightened, his mind racing. He couldn't bear such a heavy accusation. He hurried to explain.
"I haven't. Aurelia is the only woman I've ever loved. If I hadn't found her, I would have lived alone for the rest of my life. I won't betray her now or ever."
Reed also grew anxious.
"Cathy, I won't defend him on this. I know exactly how he lived during the years Aurelia was gone. He had no other women and didn't even look at any. You can check with those around him. I stake my reputation on it!"
Reed, almost incoherent with urgency, continued.
"He was like the walking dead without Aurelia. I saw him come back to life only after finding her.
Here's a secret no one else knows. He developed a severe mental illness initially. If not for a good doctor, he would have ended up in a psychiatric hospital. He's obsessive. Without Aurelia, the Heilbronn family wouldn't have a mistress."
Cathy's stern face softened slightly. She didn't trust others, but Reed's words held some weight. As the founder of Heilbronn Group Jewelry, she had some understanding of Reed during her entrepreneurial years. Business was all about integrity, and she believed he wouldn't lie.
Cathy sat upright, her expression serious.
"Alright, let's set other matters aside. As long as that woman lives, I can't be at peace. This kind of bullying is unacceptable. Call me vicious or unreasonable, but my precious Aurelia suffered unfair treatment and nearly lost her life. I can't swallow this anger."
Reed's heart trembled at these words. He had lived a life of faith, never doing evil, believing in karma.
Cathy's words implied they needed to take a stand, to avenge Aurelia's suffering and give her justice.
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